Spotlight On: Tamarind

Tamarind is not only good for your skin, but it’s pretty tasty too – sweet and sour, rather tart.

by Natalie K. Bell

Tamarind is not the most visually appealing fruit on the vine — it grows in large, brown pods — not nearly as lovely the vibrant red of tomatoes peeking out from shady green leaves. But it’s got a sweet and sour taste that makes it prime for cuisines the world over. I first discovered it as a candy in Mexico — which is a mouthwatering combination of sweet, salty and spicy for the adventurous eater. In addition to its culinary uses, it’s also got medicinal properties that get used in ethnomedicine a lot and has been discovered by more than one skin care companies for it’s positive effects.

Tamarind: Background and Consumption

Taramind has been used for centuries, dating back to Arabic medicine.

Tamarind has been used in ethnic medicine for quite some time — mentioned in Sanskrit literature and well-known by the Europeans after they received it from Arab traders (International Journal of Biology). When ingested, it’s an excellent source of calcium, phosphorous, and iron, excellent source of riboflavin, thiamin, and niacin, as well as limited amounts of vitamins A and C (Tamarind). It’s being studied as a new way of absorbing medications as well, though this means it can increase absorption of certain medications (International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science).

Tamarind and Skin

This plant is basically a rock star in terms of what it can do for skin. According to the book, Herbal Plants Used as a Cosmetic, “Tamarind seed has activity of radical scavenging, lipid peroxidation reducing and anti-microbial activities. Its antioxidant activity is appropriate for anti-wrinkle cosmetics” Taramind also been shown to have very few irritating effects on skin (Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology). That’s quite a reputation to live up to!

In a study where tamarind extract was rubbed on rat’s wounds, researchers found that the rate of healing was significantly increased. It took 14 days for the control groups’ wounds to heal and just 11 days for the tamarind groups’ wounds to heal (Journal of Biology). Nearly all the extractions methods of tamarind — save for PBS — contained alkaloid, saponin and tannin.

The Bottom Line

Tamarind has few negative side effects and is a super food in terms of what it can do for your skin and body — something people have known for centuries. It’s finding its way into beauty products and for a few very good reasons — it’s great for seeking out and stabilizing free radicals, helps with UV protection, works to de-pigment skin, and can speed up the healing process.

Here are a few products with tamarind that you might want to try:

Recommended most for combination/oily skin types, this cleanser has its greatest effects when rubbed into the skin for a full minute before rinsing. (As do all cleansers, really!) Product Rating: 7.5/10

This toner is unique in that it has both hydrating and oil-removing properties. It’s perfect for people with combination oily skin who need hydration in certain areas, but who simultaneously fear shine. The secret? Rice bran helps to absorb oil, while tamarind and hyaluronic acid lightly hydrate, and tea keeps the skin calm. Is it the ultimate hydrator or oil removing? No, but it is great at helping to balance the two for those with combination skin! Product Rating: 8/10

Again, a solid product, but only for combination/oily skin types. Simi Essentials Tamarind Day Creme is designed to help balance oil. However, without ingredients like alumina or kaolin to absorb oil, it’s more like a mild primer to help balance oily skin without removing all of the oil completely. It’s not a miracle product, but it is solid. Product Rating: 7/10

4 thoughts on “Spotlight On: Tamarind”

Tifsays:

I have oily-combo acne-prone skin and I’m interested in the Juara toner you mentioned above, but you said it is not the ultimate hydrator or oil remover. I am in dire need of a good moisturizer that doesn’t break me out, is there something like this product that you think would be better? A post on best moisturizers and anti-aging products for acne-prone skin would be super helpful.

@Tif: That is a great idea. For oily/acne-prone skin, we like: *Is your skin rough or smooth? If it is rough or mottled, try a gentle scrub or clay mask. Either way, you need a cleanser with salicyclic acid.

*You definitely need a retinoid. If you have health insurance, I highly recommend Retin-A Micro. If not, I am coming out with a Time-Release Retinol 0.5 Gel super proud of on August 16, 2012, but there are also a lot of other great concentrated retinols out there, including Green Cream Level 6 with 0.6% retinol and Skinceuticals 0.5 with 0.5% retinol.

*If your condition is particularly bad, ask your dermatologist about prescription antibiotics, such as Accutane, benzamycin or clindamycin. These are not without side effects, but they can make a world of difference in your confidence.

*If you want an instant regimen, I recommend trying the Rodan+Fields line or the Jan Marini Transformation System. All solid products, though concentrations usually aren’t listed. I used both for a while and liked the results for the products for my skin type (normal/dry/sensitive).

Thanks, Nicki! I’ve been on many different acne prescriptions and I’m currently using Tazorac and Clindamycin. I also use Topix GlySal 10-2 pads, but I still get a few pimples here and there. I’ve also been using the Mychelle Sun Shield you recommended in that sunscreen post. As I enter my 30’s I am starting to worry abt my skin aging, but not a lot of anti-aging products are marketed toward acne-prone skin and the ones that I’ve come across I am skeptical abt, so this has been the biggest challenge for me.